Cultural, Faith, and Disability (CFD) Communities COVID-19 Updates 5/10/24

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Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates

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Minnesota Department of Health

Friday, May 10

The Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Update is being sent to the following three MDH mailing lists to reduce duplication:

  • Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates
  • MN Immigrant and Refugee Health Announcements
  • The Center for Health Equity

Today's COVID-19 updates include:


COVID-19 in Minnesota

Take these steps to protect yourself and others:

  • Stay up to date on your COVID-19 Vaccine. Recommended for ages 6 months and older, the vaccine will protect you against serious illness. Even if you were vaccinated in the past, you may still need the updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. This latest vaccine provides protection from the newer variants circulating in our communities right now. People 65 years and older who received one dose of any updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine should receive one additional dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after the last one.
  • Stay at home when you are sick. Take care of yourself and those around you by staying home (away from others) if you have symptoms like a cough, sore throat, sneezing, or fever.
  • Take a COVID-19 test when needed. It is important to get tested if you have symptoms or were in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. If you test positive and are at higher risk, medications are available. The medications are most effective within 5 days of when symptoms begin, which is why you should get tested.
  • Be mindful every day. Frequently wash your hands and cover coughs to keep germs from spreading.

Additional resources

Find prevention tips on Protect Yourself and Others: COVID-19.

See hospitalization data for flu, COVID-19, and RSV on Viral Respiratory Illness in Minnesota.


Funding

  • Community-Level Innovations for Improving Health Outcomes Grant: 

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH) is seeking applications for projects to demonstrate that community-level innovations that reduce barriers related to social determinants of health (SDOH) can increase use of preventive health services and make progress toward Leading Health Indicator (LHI) targets. SDOH are described in Healthy People 2030 as conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. 

    • Application deadline: May 15 at 5 p.m.
  • Targeted Training for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Families in Racial and Ethnic Communities Grant: The Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is pleased to announce the availability of a total of $70,000 in federal funds under provisions of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) (P.L. 106-402) to provide targeted training to three cohorts in racial and ethnic communities. Proposals are being sought from any public or private organization or any non-profit organization. The GCDD will award a single annual grant that may be renewed up to four additional years.
    • Application deadline: May 16 at 5 p.m.
  • Sexual Violence Prevention Grant RFP: The Minnesota Department of Health Sexual Violence Prevention Program (MDH SVPP) is excited to announce a request for proposals (RFP) for the Sexual Violence Prevention (SVP) Grant Program. The SVP Grant is a four-year and six-month grant program that will begin August 2024 and end January 2029. The goal of the SVP grant program is to support activities that stop sexual violence from occurring by promoting health equity. 
    • Application deadline: May 17
  • Minnesota Local Food Purchase Assistance Grant: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting applications for a second round of the MN Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. This program funds projects that buy local food primarily from socially disadvantaged farmers and distribute that food at no cost to underserved communities throughout the state. Applicants may request between $20,000 and $125,000, and the MDA anticipates awarding roughly $3.1 million in this second round. 
    • Application deadline: May 20
  • First Nations Development Institute Advancing Tribal Nature-Based Solutions grants: Under its newly created Climate Initiative, First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) invites applications for its Advancing Tribal Nature-Based Solutions grant program. This project is designed to provide tribes and Native nonprofits with resources to support climate action that addresses adaptation and disaster preparation (e.g., wildfires, flooding, drought) through the application of nature-based solutions based on Native knowledge. Nature-based solutions rely on animals, plants, and the environment to protect ecosystems and support human well-being and local biodiversity. First Nations expects to award six grants of up to $200,000 each. Tribes, Tribal §7871 entities, Native-controlled nonprofits, and Native-controlled community organizations located in the United States or U.S. territories are eligible to apply.
    • Application deadline: May 22
  • Addressing Diabetes Through Community Solutions for Healthy Food Access: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Diabetes and Health Behavior Unit seeks community-based proposals to address food and nutrition security for people with diabetes or prediabetes. Applicants will be asked to describe how they will pilot or expand innovative models that address food and nutrition security among people who are disproportionately affected by prediabetes and diabetes.
    • Application deadline: June 12
  • Creating Linkages to Heart Health: The Minnesota Department of Health Cardiovascular Health Unit is requesting proposals to connect clinical and community services to improve cardiovascular health and reduce impacts of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes among Minnesota adults. Project proposals will demonstrate how organizations create or enhance existing community clinical linkages to increase referrals to social needs, culturally relevant supports, and/or lifestyle change programs for adults with hypertension, high cholesterol, or other risk of cardiovascular disease. 
    • Application deadline: June 12

Jobs

Search for careers within the State of Minnesota using the Job ID or job title.

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans: Search open positions

  • Child and Family Health Division Communications Specialist (Job ID: 76050): This position will provide analysis, and oversight of the Child and Family Health (CFH) division's publications and web content and communications, promote and support SharePoint collaboration and assure compliance with state accessibility requirements.
    • Application deadline: May 15 

Upcoming Testing & Vaccination Events

COVID-19 Community Testing

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) works in partnership with communities to provide safe and free on-site COVID-19 testing in areas with outbreaks, increasing cases, or other barriers to access existing test sites.

  • How Minnesotans can get a COVID-19 test

Testing Events: 

African Immigrants Community Services (AICS)

  • Mondays - Thursdays 
  • 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 
  • 1433 E. Franklin Ave., Suite 13B, Minneapolis
  • AICS.Testing.2024

SEWA-AIFW

  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays (until June 30)
  • 1 - 4 p.m. 
  • 6645 James Ave. N., Brooklyn Center
  • SEWA-AIFW.2024.png 

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

  • Monday, May 13 - Thursday, May 16
  • 3 - 7 p.m. 
  • 1301 North 10th Ave., Minneapolis

COVID-19 Community Vaccines

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) works in partnership with communities to provide safe and free on-site COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be very good at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Make sure you and your family are up to date on any COVID-19 vaccine doses you are recommended to get to have the best protection against COVID-19. 

  • How to get a vaccine
    • Check for vaccine appointments using Vaccines.gov (you can search for appointments by vaccine type: Pfizer vaccine, Moderna vaccine, Novavax vaccine) 
    • Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
    • To locate a community vaccination event near you, call the MDH COVID-19 public hotline at 1-833-431-2053 Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, Thursday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccination Events:

 

Restoration for All Inc.

  • Friday, May 10
  • 1 - 5 p.m.
  • Maplewood YMCA Community Center
  • 2100 White Bear Ave., Maplewood
  • REFA.png.05.10.24

Comunidades Organizando el Poder (COPAL)

  • Saturday, May 11
  • 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo
  • 3521 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis

St. Mary’s Health Clinics

  • Monday, May 13
  • 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Consulate of Ecuador
  • 2310 NE Central Ave., Minneapolis

Somali Community Resettlement Services of Olmstead County

  • Friday, May 17
  • 12 - 4 p.m.
  • 201 Lyndale Ave. S., Suite W, Faribault

To find a list of all upcoming COVID-19 Community Coordinator (CCC) vaccination clinics, please visit the CCC Vaccination Event Calendar.

Reminders

Discrimination helpline

Discrimination Helpline

Report Discrimination and Bias

COVID-19 does not discriminate based on race, where you come from, your immigration status, or anything else. 

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of discrimination or bias call Minnesota's Discrimination Helpline at 1-833-454-0148 or submit an online form on the Report Discrimination page. The helpline is staffed by investigators from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Translation/interpretation services are available.

If you are the victim of a crime, including a hate crime, or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.


MDH COVID-19 Public Hotline:

For questions related to COVID-19, call 1-833-431-2053
Mon., Wed., and Fri.: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tues. and Thurs.: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To connect directly to a representative in American Sign Language, visit the Contact Us: COVID-19 Questions webpage. 


Peer Support Connection (PSC) Warmline:

Contact the PSC Warmline, which is available every day from 5 p.m. - 9 a.m., by calling 1-844-739-6369.

Visit the Peer Support Connection Warmline page for more information.


MDH Contact Information:

For questions regarding the information in this bulletin or the Cultural, Faith and Disabilities Communities (CFD) branch, please email health.equity@state.mn.us.


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